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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A comparison of N Reactor and Chernobyl

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6913274

The nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in the Soviet Union has resulted in a number of design reviews of the Hanford N Reactor because of some similarities between N Reactor and the Soviet RBMK reactor. While the two reactors have some common features, they also have many significant differences. In addition, the reactor characteristics associated with the common features are very different. This report compares key system design and operating features and points out the differences in N Reactor and the RBMK. A description of the Chernobyl accident provides a basis to show how the differences in the two reactors and the manner in which they are operated would preclude a similar accident in the N Reactor.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-87RL10930
OSTI ID:
6913274
Report Number(s):
WHC-EP-0094; ON: DE88014645
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English